PIXIE LOTT: Boys And Girls.The follow-up to her number one, Mama Do, and the full-bodied big production effect may well do the same trick again. It nods its head to that late 60s fun sound.
FLO RIDA featuring NELLY FURTADO: Jump.The chart-topper will no doubt be troubling the top spot again with this jaunty nursery rhyme hip hop that burrows deep into the brain and then refuses all attempts to lure it out.
FLORENCE RAWLINGS: Hard To Get.Cool, after dark Motown stomp – and the young Londoner has a hard enough voice to cut through and carry it off as it captures the essence of authentic soul and brass-backed rhythm and blues.
ALI CAMPBELL: Everways featuring Craig David/She’s A Lady featuring Shaggy.Teaming up with two big names will no doubt lift Ali’s profile with other audiences, but it’s still that gently rolling soulful reggae on Everways while the cover of Tom Jones’ 1971 She’s A Lady is straight up brassy reggae with Shaggy’s dancehall rasp giving it an earthy kick.
ALEXANDER: Spend A Little Time.Described as a one man Scissor Sisters, you can see the comparison with this somewhat camp electro-pop – and he uses leotards and ballet tights to give it the full effect. He comes from Doncaster.
MICHAEL JACKSON – The Motown Solo Collection.What can so easily be forgotten in all the furore surrounding Michael Jackson’s death and musical legacy is that he recorded masses before Off The Wall and Thriller. This 3 CD set features all 70 of his solo recordings between 1971 and 1975 plus the Motown era songs that were released after he left the company. There are masses of them – and many are up there with the classics such as Ain’t No Sunshine, Ben, My Girl, Got To Be There and I Was Made To Love Her. An eye-opener, but still makes you wonder why it all went so bizarre and, ultimately, tragic for him.
I AM YOUR AUTOPILOT: Robots In The Orchestra.All this lot need are kaftans and the hazy, lazy, swirling 60s melodic psychedelia would have the full impact. Or, as their PR people put it, they “effortlessly blend soulful electronics and choral vocals with chiming acoustic guitars and analogue synth oscillations.’’ In short, they’ve been listening to Air alongside Simon and Garfunkel.
